Cow tail holder



AA. J` KLINE COWTAIL HOLDER July 4, 1950 Filed Aug. 16, -1946 I m'entor ALBERT d. Kl. INE

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A to rneys Patented July 4, 1950 STATES PATENT? OFFICE COW TAIL HOLDER AlbertJ. Kline, New Douglas, Ill. Application 16, 1946, Serial No.v 691,056

This invention relates lto cowtail holdersintended to hold the tail of a W, especially during milking operation. A

An important object of the present invention is to provide a cow leg attachable device 'for holding cow tails still, the device beingsoconstructed as to be humane yet positive acting and substantially fool-proof at all times.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a cow tail holder which can be readily adjusted to position without possibility of inflicting any injury on the cow and without setting up any uncomfortable condition that might tend to upset the composure of the cow during milking operations.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to the reader of the following description.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the rear part of a cow showing the tail holder in use.

Figure 2 is a top plan .View of the holder.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a transverse section taken on line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional View through the jaws and main spring of the device.

Referring to the drawing, numeral 5 denotes one leg of a cow having the usual knee bone 6 and the upper leg leader 1. It is intended that the holder generally referred to Iby numeral 8 be situated on the cows leg so las to not only embrace the knee bone but also a substantial portion of the .upper leg leader 1.

The holder includes a substantially cylindrical split main spring 9, the end. portions of which are riveted as at I0 to a pair of opposed jaw plates II, I2, the plate I2 having a laterally disposed back plate I3 overlapping the inner end of the jaw plate I I, so as to prevent the cows tail from entering thel confines of the main spring `il.

Pads or blocks I4 of cushion or resilient material are secured to the opposed faces of the jaw plates II, I2 and the same rivets I0 may serve to secure these blocks in position.

Leg gripping jaws I5, I5 are secured in any suitable manner to the outer edges of the -jaw plates I I, I2 and as shown in Figure 5, these jaws are longitudinally corrugated as at a to conform with the configuration of the upper leg leader 1, while the lower portion of each leg jaw I5 is cupped outwardly as at I6 to t over the corresponding side portion of the cows knee 6.

2,l claims. (o1. 11s- 105) For actuating the holder, a pair of handles- I1, I1 are riveted o r otherwise secured to the back portion of the main spring 9 as'at I8, atpoints suitably spaced apart and when the handles I1, 'I1- are pressed toward each other, theends of 4 the main spring 9-will lbe flexed'apart tof/space the jaw plates I I, I2 and the cushion blocks I4 apart to receive a cows tail (preferably the hairy termina/l portion of the tail).

A booster spring I9 of substantially U-shape, has its bight portion riveted or otherwise secured, as at 20 to the Iback portion of the main spring 9, while its leg portions bear against the inner sides of the handles I1, I1, thus spreading the handles apart and assisting the main spring 9 in maintaining the jaw plates Ir I, I2 closed.

As is shown in Figure 3, it is preferable that the leg engaging jaws I5, I5 be substantially longer` than the width of the spring 9 so 'as to'secure its eicient purchase on the leg of the cow.

In the use of the holder, the handles I1, I1

are iirst contracted, in order to open the jaw plates II, I2 and the jaws I5. The hairy part of the cows tail is now inserted between the cushion blocks I4, I4 and the jaws I5, I5 disposed in straddling position over the lower part of the upper leg, as shown in Figure 1, rst making certain that the cups I6 are centered over the opposite sides of the knee. The holder can now be swung inwardly so that the jaws I5, I5 are embracing the leader 1 of the upper leg and with the parts in this position, the handles I1 can be released, whereupon the jaws I5, I5 will snugly, yet comfortably engage the leg, while the hairy portion of the tail will be held between the clamp blocks I4.

Thus, the cows tail is held by one leg of the cow, through the use of this device, without discomfort to the cow, because there is but slight pressure on the cows leg and practically no noticeable elect on the tail, because the tail is being held by the hairy terminal portion.

While the foregoing description sets forth the invention in specific terms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, size and materials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A cow tail holder comprising a main spring having a rear cross bar and arms extending forwardly from ends thereof, the arms being bent toward each other and terminating in forwardly extending lips, plates mounted against inner faces of the lips and having portions extending rearwardly into space between the arms of the spring, said plates constituting jaws for gripping a cows tai1 and one having a side flange at its rear and extending across the rear end of the other plate and constituting a guard for preventing rearward 'movement of the cows tail beyond the plates, leg gripping jaws at front end of said plates projecting forwardly therefrom and having upper and lower "portions,projectingffbeyondupper and lower ends `Vof "the plates, handles carriedv by said main spring at ends of the cross bar thereof and projecting rearwardly from the main spring, and a U-shaped booster spring disposed between the handles longitudinally thereof and having its bridge portion secured against the rear vfaceof the cross bar of the main spring and its arms extending rearwardly therefrom along inner faces of the handles.

2. A cow tail holder comprising a main spring having. -a cross .bar and arms extending `forwardly therefromand ltoward each other, .plates carried "b,y...forwardA ends of thearms and having. portions etending rearwardly y into space between ,--the arms, oneA plate having a side extension yat its rear end extending lacross the rear end of the other plate, said plates constituting jaws for gripping a cows tail between them, leg gripping jaws mounted at front ends of the plates and projecting forwardly therefrom, and handles carried by the spring at the junction of its cross bar and arms extending rearwardly from the spring.

ALBERT J. KLINE.

infr'fmmnelisy errer The following references are of record in the :zle of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date "390,176 Lee Sept. 25, 1888 .f5-11h58() Bartholomew Apr. 24, 1894 539,916 Hilliker May 28, 1895 *718,273 VMcLellan Jan. 13, 1903 1,141,746 Zenke June 1, y1915 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Gountry Date 

